Auto Review: Prius is 'normal' hybrid that's still great on mileage; futuristic interior a plus

By Will Chamberlain, For The Times

Sunday

Jan 6, 2019 at 6:00 AM

Most of the time, people don’t worry too much about gas mileage.

Hybrids are here to help you gain a couple extra miles and the Prius is the most well-known car out there for that. The Prius has been around for a bunch of years and remains the most recognized “hybrid-looking” car out there. This is the car for those that want a purpose-built car that is made to get good mileage and minimal air drag.

Under the 2018 Toyota Prius Four Touring hood is a 1.8L 4-cylinder mated to the hybrid synergy drive system with electric motors and a battery pack. The power delivery is really smooth and provides plenty of power when needed. The CVT transmission is noticeable but not unexpected in this application. It’s the best paring for efficiency and power application overall. The Prius isn’t slow and when you really need to move it can blast down an on-ramp for sure. But that’s not what the Prius is for.

Exterior of the 2018 Prius is changed slightly from the previous model but the overall look is still unmistakable. Up front are LED headlights with LED daytime lights at the corners. Around back the LED tail lamps are very pronounced and have a zig-zag pattern that’s cool to see in traffic. The touring model gets two-tone five-spoke wheels that give a sporty look to the Prius. I don’t mind the overall exterior appearance. I know it’s a bit “spaceship” for some people but the overall appearance isn’t terrible.

Interior is also very different for those not used to the layout.

The speedo and other information is displayed in the center dash for all to see. It’s not in front of the driver like in traditional cars. The gear selector looks like a video game console. Then there is the center touch-screen that is massive in appearance and commands attention. It displays the cars information and all of the stereo and HVAC controls in one place. It’s really a smart tablet perfect for the Prius’ overall interior and design.

Passenger comfort is adequate and can give four adults plenty of head room. I was able to install my daughter's seat with LATCH really quickly. The trunk area is also good sized and will swallow most things with ease. If your phone can charge wirelessly, the center console houses an area for that. This current model of the Prius with the large center screen is really a nice and user-friendly Prius. I enjoy the futuristic interior with the screens and instrument cluster up front. It allows all passengers to see what is going on. My kids especially enjoy the large touch-screen while it displays the large map, they can easily track where we are driving.

Overall, the Prius is an easy to drive and very efficient vehicle. If you travel in the city most of the time, the Prius will return huge mileage for you. During my time with the Prius driving a mixture of city and highway miles, I was able to get an average of 52 mpg and that’s what Toyota claims your average would be. If you drive strictly city/urban roads, I would bet you can get more than 60 mpg. MSRP for the Four Touring is $33,248.

Will Chamberlain is a local freelance automotive journalist and full-time Realtor with eXp Realty in Beaver and can be reached at wchamberlain@pghcarguys.com.

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